How to Make Writing a Habit

We all have rituals
in our life. Every morning, I wake and make myself a cappuccino, not those
want-to-be cappuccinos in those plastic k-cups. I make real Italian coffee in an espresso pot, served in
my white cappuccino cup, extra foam and topped with cinnamon. The house is
usually still dark; I turn on the light next to my chair. I pull a soft,
knitted cream blanket across my lap, with coffee beside me and laptop in hand,
I begin to write. It’s a simple routine and may not seem important to the
outside observer, but to me it is the ritual that launches me into my writing
time.

My writing time is distraction-free. There is no music
playing, the TV is off and I have not opened my email or social media. Depending
on my schedule, I may write for 30 minutes, I may write all morning. The practice I perform of pouring that coffee, wrapping myself in a
blanket and sitting in my favourite chair is my ritual. Its’ very purpose is to
place me in a mindset to write, to be creative.

Why do we want or need to create rituals? Rituals help us to
habitulize events in our day, they give us one less thing to think about, one
less task to plan. When we begin any new
routine and wish to establish it as a new habit, we usually fight it, we
question it. There is usually an element of fear present. We are walking into
the unknown and the unknown is fearful. If you’re just beginning to write your
family history stories than you are probably experiencing some of that fear. You’re
questioning whether you have the time or talent to complete this project. You
fear you lack the skills and you fear what others may say about your skills. It is unknown territory for you and therefore
your fear is justified.

By creating a ritual,
an environment that welcomes your new habit, and says ok, I’m here and ready to
write, it opens the door to being creative, it eliminates the need to ask the
question, why am I doing this? I already know, I perform these rituals to
prepare myself to write. The ritual allows you to welcome the habit and to stop
questioning its existence. The ritual won’t eliminate your fear, but it will
help you to create a pattern, and help to keep the fear from disrupting your intent.

We all have rituals in our day. Morning routines, exercise
routines, work schedules and bedtime habits are common practice in most people’s
lives. Most of these routines develop quite sub-consciously. Think of the
customs you created for your children when they were young to prepare them for
bed, or naptime, or dinnertime. Rituals are ceremonial acts to prepare you for
an event. In order to set up writing as a event in your life, consider creating
a few ceremonial practices as your signal to begin.

Be aware of distractions. By allowing distractions in, you
are sabotaging your efforts and your fear just maybe the cause. Stand your
ground, don’t let fear sideline you with interuptions and excuses.

Each writer must find the environmental
conditions that allow them to be creative. My morning routine is individual to
me and me alone. You must find what works for you, what will prepare you and
your mind. Rituals offer the signal; this is what I’m doing for the next 30
minutes, 60 minutes or 500 words. This
very rite aids you in creating an environment that is habit-forming.

How do you make writing habit-forming?

Remove distractions, it clears time and mental
space so you can focus on the task at hand.

Identify the writing environment that allows you
to be creative. It might take a couple of adjustments to find what works for
you, but be aware of your surroundings and how they affect your writing
process.

Develop rituals that prepare the environment for
writing and signal your mind it’s time to begin.

Join us in The Family History Writing Challenge. Our 28-day challenge gives you the opportunity to begin writing your family history stories while creating some long-term writing habits. You can learn more about the challenge at our new website where you’ll find articles and resources in our member’s area to help you start today.

4 comments:

It is really all so simple, making it the habit is difficult. Looking forward to trying some pointers here. If nothing else, the title of this post reminded me to catch up on my journal notes. I actually wrote them before I read this. So far this part of my writing life has been working since the beginning of the year, just need to make it a better routine. Then, I can work on the next writing project! Thanks, great post!

Great post. I have to take care of the social media first or it would bug me. Nearing the end of my Holmes family history book, I find the looming deadline is what is inspiring me now. Really its fear, but if I say inspiring it sounds better!

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